Gabriel Jesus: Arsenal striker drops Serie A transfer hint, makes honest Ancelotti admission | OneFootball

Arsenal striker Gabriel Jesus reveals he ‘dreamed of playing’ in Italy as a kid and admits Carlo Ancelotti was right to keep him out of the Brazil squad at the 2026 World Cup: ‘I didn’t deserve it.’

Arsenal striker Gabriel Jesus leaves the door open for a possible summer move to Serie A.

Gabriel Jesus: ‘I grew up watching Serie A’

There have been reports across Italian and English media in recent weeks that both Juventus and Milan are interested in a potential deal, and the striker told Gazzetta: “I grew up watching Serie A and dreamed of playing in Italy. Scoring two goals at San Siro against Inter was like making that dream come true. I don’t know my future, I’m working now and we’ll see what happens with Arsenal.”

MILAN, ITALY – JANUARY 20: Gabriel Jesus of Arsenal scores his team’s second goal during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD7 match between FC Internazionale Milano and Arsenal FC at Stadio San Siro on January 20, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)

The 29-year-old scored six goals in 27 appearances across all competitions with Arsenal in 2025-26, and his contract in North London runs out in June 2027. The Brazilian described himself as “a happy guy, who jokes with everyone, even Calafiori, who plays with me at Arsenal.

“Calafiori loves Brazil like I love Italy. Now he’s in Brazil, he sends me photos and Brazilian music,” the striker revealed.

Gabriel Jesus’ lack of playing time with Arsenal in 2025-26 cost him a place in the Brazil national team squad for the 2026 World Cup, but the Arsenal man has no hard feelings towards Ancelotti.

“I don’t think I was even that close to getting into the team,” admitted the striker.

“There have been other players called up many times in the last year and then cut anyway. If you ask me, ‘Did you deserve to be on the list?’ I say no.'”

BUDAPEST, HUNGARY – MAY 30: Kepa Arrizabalaga, Martin Zubimendi, Mikel Merino, Cristhian Mosquera, Martin Odegaard, Riccardo Calafiori, Gabriel Martinelli, Gabriel Jesus and Christian Norgaard of Arsenal sit on the Arsenal bench during the UEFA Champions League Final 2026 match between Paris Saint-Germain and Arsenal FC at Puskas Arena on May 30, 2026 in Budapest, Hungary. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)

The Arsenal striker revealed the last time he talked to Ancelotti: “We spoke in January, when I was scoring goals. Unfortunately, I didn’t have any minutes at the end of the season and, to be honest, that’s why I didn’t deserve to be at the World Cup. I understand these situations.

“Everyone has to respect him [Ancelotti],” concluded Gabriel Jesus.

“He is the most successful. What impressed me most were the words of those who worked with him: he is open, he makes the team a family.”